March 22nd 2016
37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ – Matthew 23:37-39
The Heart of God
Have you ever heard a mother called a “mother hen”? This mother is very attentive to the needs of her children. She wants to protect them from hardship and keep them safe in every situation. She is attentive to their needs especially in times of danger and therefore likened to a mother hen. If you ever watched a mother hen it is very impressive how protective she is when sensing danger to her chicks. She will become very vocal and prance in place as she summons her chicks to the safety of her arched wings. It is under the body of their mother that the chicks find safety whenever they are threatened.
After Jesus enters Jerusalem during the final week of His life, He spent time teaching in different venues and pointing out the sinful practices in the lives of the people and especially the Pharisees. These religious leaders had transitioned from spiritual pursuits of their faith to a showy and prideful practice and were instructing the people according to their ways. Jesus truly sought to care for the inhabitants of Jerusalem and point them to God, yet they continued to reject Him as they followed the religious leaders. Jesus tells them, “… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”
Jesus’ desire is to care for all of us and provide us with the safety of salvation as provided by the Father in heaven. Jesus came to gather all people under His care and the Cross stands as a mighty symbol of the heart of God. He longs to gather us under His protective hand as He made provision for our sin ridden souls.
As we journey through this week may we remember all that Jesus endured as He obediently took His place on the Cross. As a mother hen provides salvation to her chicks when in danger, Jesus provides salvation from the danger of sin and provides us with a place of safety in His eternal kingdom. Jesus went to the Cross to bring us to the Father and introduce us to the heart of God. We are told in John 3:16-17, “16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”.
God loves us incredibly. He sent Jesus to provide us with eternal life and save us from the lies of Satan. He wants to gather us to the safety of his side. Find your place under His wings by accepting His gift of grace!
Pastor Bob Strozyk